San Jose travel guide
San Jose Tourism | San Jose Guide
You're Going to Love San Jose
With a population of 945 942, San Jose is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything San Jose has to offer.
Activities & attractions in San Jose
Museums
Where to Eat in San Jose
Downtown is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in San Jose. These include popular favorites such as Devine Cheese & Wine (27 Devine St Ste 30), Olla Cocina (17 North San Pedro Street) and Élyse Restaurant (151 S 2nd St). If you’re looking for affordable options, VILLAGE California Bistro & Wine Bar (378 Santana Row #1035) and Black Sheep Brasserie (1202 Lincoln Avenue Suite 30) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Acopio (399 S 24th St) and Küsan Uyghur Cuisine (1516 N 4th St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in San Jose.
When to visit San Jose
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Jose in July, when the average temperature is 69.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 42.8 °F, with an average temperature of 50 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 3.1″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in San Jose, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to San Jose
Plane
When flying to San Jose, you’ll arrive at Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 5 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to San Jose include American Airlines, Air France and Aeromexico. The shortest domestic flight to San Jose departs from San Diego and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to San Jose. The train journey from San Jose to Oakland takes 1h 04m and costs around $16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Emeryville, expect to pay about $19 for a 1h 26m trip. The train station in San Jose is called San Jose, and is located 1.6 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to San Jose is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 68 km from San Jose. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to San Jose, including Amtrak, Greyhound and FlixBus. From Burbank, the bus ride to San Jose takes 587 km and will cost you around $43. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $40 for a journey of 628 km. The most popular bus station is San Jose Bus Stop, located 0.6 km from downtown San Jose. San Jose Bus Service is also a commonly used station, and is 3.0 km from the city center.
Airlines serving San Jose
Where to stay in San Jose
Average rates range from around $208 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $547 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Motel 6 San Jose Convention Center and Ez 8 Motel San Jose II. There are also lots of vacation rental options in San Jose, with prices from $52 to $2,724 per night. North San Jose is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in San Jose are about 16% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Downtown - In San Jose’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include AC Hotel by Marriott San Jose Downtown, San Jose Marriott and The Westin San Jose.
South San Jose - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western San Jose Central City, Hampton Inn San Jose Cherry Ave and Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose South. The average nightly price for a double room in South San Jose is $117.
North San Jose - Residence Inn by Marriott San Jose Airport, Homewood Suites by Hilton San Jose Airport-Silicon Valley and Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott San Jose Airport have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in North San Jose will cost you about $85 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of San Jose
Most booked hotels in San Jose
Renting a car in San Jose
Renting a car in San Jose costs $63 per day, on average, or $188 if you want to rent if for 3 days. National, Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in San Jose is the Fox branch at 1659 Airport Boulevard, which is 4 km from the city center.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in San Jose (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in San Jose is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Chevrolet Cobalt or similar) are, on average, 78% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in San Jose
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$28/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$31/day